May 2014 Public Comment at MCPS Board Meeting by Prescott School Advocate

The Public Comment follows:

In an update last month I mentioned that I was mailing a document and information request regarding the financial ramifications of leasing Prescott School to Missoula International School - which has been going on for a decade, since 2004.

I was quite disappointed in the response that I received from the Superintendent Apostle as he did not do the research needed to come up with a valid assessment of the situation at Prescott.

Superintendent Apostle refused to acknowledge that Missoula International School is attracting students within our school district boundaries. The superintendent made NO effort to contact Missoula International School, as far as I know, to gather information for which MIS would have access. It is reasonable for our school district to gather this information – as each student is worth approximately $5,000.

Of course, some students may come from out of our district. We are not saying that they don’t, however, most of them are most likely coming from the MCPS district boundaries!

Of course, Missoula International School would be operating in Missoula even if the school was not located in Prescott. The issue is – IT IS NOT OUR DUTY AS A PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM TO BE ASSISTING A PRIVATE SCHOOL BY ALLOWING THEM TO LEASE ONE OF OUR CREAM OF THE CROP SCHOOL FACILITIES.

I HAVE DONE SOME HOMEWORK ON THIS ISSUE. I HAVE STOOD AT THE CORNER OF ELM STREET AND VAN BUREN AND WITNESSED 80 VEHICLES A DAY STREAMING ONTO ELM STREET AND TURNING TO DROP THEIR CHILDREN OFF AT Prescott. 

The district, the superintendent, would not do any research on the number of Rattlesnake children attending Missoula International School. I have done some – about 1/3 to ½ of the vehicles turning onto Elm Street going to Prescott are from the upper Rattlesnake.

I have seen close to hundreds of flyers by Missoula International School all over this city advertising their school to the general public of Missoula – not just out of district children. These flyers are placed in a Rattlesnake Valley grocery store, in the hidden hallways of stores, and even in Missoula area restrooms!

I have heard Missoula International School infomercials airing over the radio waves of Missoula advertising their school.

Also related to this issue are the many one page ads from the Catholic Schools advertising their school which is now located in the former Roosevelt School.

Missoulians, we are being taken for a private school ride and a very expensive one at that!!

I am requesting that Superintendent Apostle get together with officials from MIS, perhaps Julie Lennox, and gather the necessary information for not only myself but ALL Missoula citizens.

Note: Corrections were made to the original public comment in order to correct grammar and a couple of sentences that didn't make sense.  5/13/14